Chef David Gunawan Departs Wildebeest and Wesley Young Steps In

Vancouver, BC, January 15, 2013 – Gastown’s popular Wildebeest, which burst onto the Vancouver restaurant scene in August 2012, is pleased to formally announce that Chef Wesley Young will lead the restaurant’s open kitchen come February 1st, 2013. A member of the opening team, Young has worked directly with Executive Chef David Gunawan and the talented crew, which combined have a dozen Michelin stars among them.

The announcement heralds the departure of David Gunawan from the Wildebeest kitchen at the end of January. Gunawan was a key player for the restaurant in the opening months but has decided to pursue his own entrepreneurial spirit as a partner at Che Baba Cantina and Yoga Studio. “It has definitely been an amazing journey opening Wildebeest and working with such a talented group of chefs,” explains Gunawan. “I leave the restaurant in good hands with Wesley and look forward to visiting and enjoying the food as a guest in the future.”

Before joining Wildebeest, Young’s impressive resume included C restaurant, West, 357c in Montreal, and Tom Aikens in London. Alongside him will be the senior kitchen team, consisting of Josh Blumenthal, almunus of Windows, La Chappelle, and Viajante; Brigitte Guerin, previously of Le Meurice and Maison ‘Pic’; Ashley Kurtz, alumnus of Viajante and Maze; and Jordan Clay, previously of Tom Aikens and L’Abattoir.

ABOUT WILDEBEEST
Located at 120 West Hastings St. in Gastown, Wildebeest is open for dinner Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm to 12am, and brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Reservations can be made by phoning the restaurant at 604-687-6880 or online. For more information visit www.wildebeest.ca